Clamp for removing tubing.



v PATENTED. JUNE 9, 190s.' l J. H. SMITH, Y

GLA-MP Fon RBMUVING TUBING.

APPLIUAVTIGN FILED JAN. 8, 1,908-

N0 MODEL.

/WWA

vm; mms PETERS cc, wom-urna., wnsuwm'cn o. c.

No. 730,486. A

YATENTED JUNE 9, 190s.

J. H'. SMITH. I l CLAMP-Foa REMO'VING TUBING.-

Arrucufon FILED un. a, 1903.

No mmm.

2 SHEETS-SHEET f- W ZWI Nonsense.

UNiTED STATES- Patented June 9, 190,3.

PATENT OFFICE.

cLAMP Fonv REMovIN-e TUBING.-

SPECIFICATION forming part o f Letters Patent No. 730,486, dated June 9, 1903.

Application filed January 8, 1903. Serial No. 138,308. (No model.)

` for engaging the tubing' of bored wells to enable the said tubing or casing to be removed from the well, and it has special reference to that class of tools which are known as casingspears and which operate interiorly upon the tubing or casing. l

The object of niyuinvention is to provide a tool of this class whichshall be capable of being used for so connecting lbrokenv or parted sections of pipe that .by exerting an upward pull upon the upper section the lower section shall be raised therewith, thus preventing the soil from caving above the lower section when vthe upper section is withdrawn.

With this and other ends in view the in- `vention consists in the improved construe* tion, arrangement, and combination of parts,

vwhich will `be hereinafter fully described, and

particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a tool constr ueted in accordance with the principles of my invention, showing the same in the act of being lowered within the well-casing. Fig. 2 is a similar'view, but showing the tool in operative position at the pointwhere adjacent tubes of the casing have parted. 3 isasectional detail view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a sectional view taken on the line 4 e in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view of the upper collar and slips of thel device on an enlarged scale, taken vat a different anglethan Figs. 1 and Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6.6 in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the collar and slips at Athe lower end of the device. Fig. S is a section taken on line 8 8 in Fig. 7.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similar numerals 0f reference.

The body of my improved tool consists of a tubular 4member 1, which is composed of a vjected.

heavy tube constructed of iron or steel and of suitable dimensions to enable it to resist the strain to which it may be in practice sub- Said tube is provided at its upper and lower ends with frustuxn-shaped collars 2 and 3, the small ends of which face each other. The collars 2 and 3 are engaged ex- .faces of said slips with the collars 2 and 3 may be expanded so as to exert a gripping force interiorly upon the tubing or casing of the well. The slips 4:, engaging the upper collar 2, are connected by upwardly-extending arms SwithA a collar 9, slidable upon a rod which extends longitudinally through the tubular body 1 and whichvcarries at its lower end a disk 11, having an upturned annular flange 12, the upper edge of which is adapted to engage theV lower en ds of the slips 5.` The collar 3 is connected by downwardlyextending converging arms 13 with a conical base 14:, which eonstitutesthe spear-point whereby the tool is guided through the wellcasin g and which in the event of a break;l or parting of the tubes having occurred will guide :the tool into the lower section of the casing. The sliding movement of the slips Ll and 5 with relation to the frust'uni-shaped collars 2 and 3 Vis limited by shoulders 15 and 1G, formed near the innerends of said wedgeshaped slips and adapted to engage the inner ends of the said collars 2 and 3, as will be readily understood by reference to the drawings. The downward movement of the slips 4 upon the collar '2 is further restrained by means of yoles or straps fi, the arms 5' at the upper and lower ends of which are suitably secured to the upper and lowerisides of the' collar 2, said straps being disposed intermediately between the slips. These straps which are thus spaced apart from the collar 2 aord guides for pins 6, which are suitably connected with the slips, and which will thus prevent the said slips from 'dropping down and out of contact with the collar. This specie means for retaining the slips withrela- IOO ltion to the collar may be omitted; but I prefer to use them as enhancing the efficiency of the operation ol' the device.

The downwardlyextending convergingl arms 13, which connect the eoll'ar 3 With the conical base 14, serve to space the wedgeshaped slips 5 apart from each other, thus guiding them vertically. The weight of said slips will tend to retain them securely in position; but I desire it to be understood that means of any suitable nature may be employed to prevent their displacement in an upward direction.

17 designates a collar which is secured adjustably by means of a set-screw 18 upon the tubular body 1 at a suitable intermediate point between the collars 2 and Another collar 19 is likewise secured by means of a set-screw 2O at a suitable distance below the collar 17. 21.is a collar mounted slidably between the collars 17 and 19. The collars 19 and 21 are connected by iiexible arms 22 and 23 with expansible supporting members 24, having beveled upper ends, as shown at 25. A coiled spring 2G, interposed between the collars 17 and 21, serves to force the latter in a downward direction, thereby tending to expand the flexible members 24 in an outward direction with a degree of force which is governed by the tension of the spring 26, which is regulated by the adjustable collar 17. The rod 10 is provided with a collar 27, adjustable by means of a set-screw 28 to limit the movement of said rod within the tubular vbody 1. The rod 10, which may be termed the operating-rod,7 is provided at its upper end with an eye 29, connected W'ith the operating-rope 30. The said rod is also provided with radially-extending pins 31, engaging cam-grooves 32 in opposite sides of the inner surface oi' the collar 9, which supports the slips 4 at the upper end of the device by means ofthe arms 8, which cooperate to constitute a cage in like manner as a cage is formed at the lower end of the device by the arms 13, which connect the collar 3 with the point 14. The cam-groove 32, upon each inner side of the collar i), includes an upper vertical groove 33, a lower vertical groove 34, parallel with and at a distance therefrom, an inclined groove 35, connecting the lower end of the groove 33 with the groove 34 at a point near the lower end of the latter, and an inclined groove 36, connecting the upper end of groove 34 with the groove 33. at a point ynear the upper end of the latter. The groove 3G, moreover, has a recessed portion forming a socket 37. i

The break or parted portion of the wellcasing is indicated at 3S, 39 designating the collar at the upper end of the section of tubing below the parted place.

Vhen the tool is let into the well-casing, the rod 10, to which the rope 30 is attached, supports the entire weight of the tool, the flanged disk at the lower end of said rod enis true, be expanded against the well-casing by the tension of the spring 3G; but the friction thus created is not sufiicient to interfere with the lowering of the tool. The weight of the slips 4 at fthe upper end ofthe tool keeps them out of engagement with the interior of the casing. The pins 31 ofthe rod 10 will be in engagement with the upper vertical grooves of the cam-grooves 32, which are designated One of the said pins has been indicated in this position in Fig. 4 ot' the drawings. NVhen the broken or parted place in the casing is reached, the point 14 will guide the lower end of the tool into the lower end of the casing, where it will continue until the supporting members 24 by the expansive force of the spring 26 are expanded into the space caused by the break or parting in the casing, when said supporting members by engaging the upper edge of the collar 3f) will prevent the farther descent of the apparatus. The rod 10, continuing the descent, will disengage the iianged disk 4 from the lower ends of the slips 5, which will thus by their own weight, aided by the weight of the arms 13 and point 14, drop into active engagement with the lower section of the well-casing, being guided into such engagement by the frustum-shaped collar 3 engaging the wedge-shaped inner faces of the slips. At the same time the pins 31 as the rod 10 descends will follow the grooves 33 and 35, causing the said rod to make a quarter-turn. The operator now pulls on rope 30, forcing the rod 10 in an upward direction, with the pins 31 engaging the. slots 34 and 3b'. until the notch or socket 37 of the latter is encountered. The rod 10 will thus exercise a strain in an upward direction upon the colar 9, thus forcing the slips upwardly, when by the action of the frustum-shaped collar 2 against the wedge-shaped inner faces of said slips the latter will be forced into engagement with the well-casing, as will be readily understood. It will be seen that when the tool is in this position the parts of the well-casing above and below the break are firmly connected, so that when a pull in an upward direction is exercised upon the upper portion 'of the well-casing the slips 4 will engage the latter with increased tenacity, said slips supporting by the collar 2 the body,T 1 of the tool, the collar 3 at the end of which forces the slips 5 into engagement with the lower-section of the well-casing, which may thus be lifted and drawn together with the upper section or portion above the break. lf it shall be desired to remove the tool from the well-casing, this may be easily aecomplished by first slightly lowering the rod 10 until the pins 31 are out of engagement with the sockets 37 of the cam-grooves, and then IOO IIO

S Y and means for causing said gripping devices ing the upper ends of the grooves 3G to the mit them to enter the lower end of the upper points where the latter merge with the upper ends of the grooves .33. Theiianged disk Il will thus be brought into engagementv'ith the lower ends of the slips 5, which will thus be lifted and disengaged from the lower section of the casing;

be raised to an extent which will permit the from the casing. The beveled upper ends or ridges of the supporting members 24: will persection of the casin g, thus permitting the tool to be withdrawn. by means of the hoisting-rope 30. The shoulders l5 and 16 at the inner ends of the slips 4f and iwill' prevent displacement of the said slips in the event of bulging or breakage of the pipe. collar 27 may be adjusted by the set-screws 28 so as to regulate the drop of the operating-rod 10.

While I have in the foregoing described a simple and preferred construction of my invention, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself with regard to the structural details of the same, but reserve to myself the right to any changes, alterations, and modifications which may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention or sacrificing the utility of the same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- I. In a device of the class described, a body member and separate means, independent of each other, for connecting the same with the upper and lower sections of a parted wellcasing.v

. 2. In adevice of the class described, a body member, expansible gripping devices at the upper and lower ends of said body member,

to engage sections of broken or parted wellcasing. i

5. A device of the class described compris- Y ing a body member, expansible gripping devices disposed at opposite ends or" said body member, and an interinediately-disposed eX- The lifting action'being continued, the frustum-shaped collar 2 willv The sliding` eXpansible supporting device, and means for regulating the expansion'ofthe latter.

7;V In a device of the class described, a tubular body member, gripping devices at the upper .and lower ends of said body member, and an operatingrod extending longitudinally through the latter.

S. In a device of the class described, a tubular body member, gripping devices at the upper and lower ends of said body member, an operatingrod extending longitudinally through` the latter, and means carried by said operating-rod whereby the said gripping devices may be retained in inactive position.

' In a device of the class described, a tubular body member, gripping devices at the upper and lowerends of said bodyinember, an operating-rod extending longitudinally through the latter, means carried by'said operatingrod whereby the said gripping devices may be retained in inactive position, and an expansible supporting device carried by the body member;

l0. In a device oi? the class described, a tubular body member, expansible gripping devices at the upper and lower ends of said body member, an operating-rod extending longitudinally through the latter, an eXpansible supporting device carried by the body. member, andmeans carried by the operating-rod whereby the gripping devices may be retained in inactive position and whereby the continued downward movement of said operating-V rod shall be edective to release said gripping devices,

Il. In a device of the class described, a tubular body member, expansible gripping devices at the upper and lower ends of said body member,- a longitudinally-movable operatingrod extending through the latter, an expansible supporting device carried by the body Vmember, means carried by the operating-rod whereby the gripping devices may be retained in inactive position and whereby the continued downward movement of said operating-` rod shall be effective to release said gripping devices, adjustable meansfor limiting thel downward movement of the rod, and means vfor regulating the tension of the expansible supporting device. A Y

l2. In a device of the class described, a tubular body member, frustum-shaped collars at the upper and lower ends of the same, and

toothed slips having Wedge-shaped inner faces slidably engaging said collars.

13. In a device of the class described, a tubular body member, frustum-shaped collars at the upper and lower ends of the samewith their small ends facing each other,v and wedgeshaped slips engaging said collars and provided at their inner ends with shoulders to,

limit their outward movement.

bular bodymember, frustum-shaped collars ICO IIO

ISO

at the upper and lower .ends of the same, with y their small ends facing each other, wedgespaced apart by the bars and having guidepins engaging the latter.

16. In a device of the class described, a body member provided at its lower end with an expansible gripping device comprising a frustum-shaped collar, wedge-shaped slips engag- A ing the same, and arms connecting said collars with a base and cooperating with the latter to form a pointed, conical cage.

17. In a device of the class described, abody member provided at its lower end with an expansible gripping device comprising a frus-I tum-shaped collar,wedgeshaped slips engaging the same and provided with shoulders to 2 5 limit their movement in a downward direction, and a conical-pointed cage comprising a base and arms connecting the latter with the coll/ar l and serving to guide the strips.

18. In a device of the class described, a body 3o member, an expansible gripping device at the lower end of the same comprising a frustumshaped collar, wedge-shaped slips engaging said collar and having shoulders to limit their downward movement, and a coniform down- 3 5 ward-extending guiding-cage having arms secured to the collar.

19. In a device of the class described, a tubular body member, an expansible gripping device at the lower end of the same compris- 4o ing a frustum-shaped collar, wedge-shaped slips engaging said collar and having shoulders to limit their downward movement, and longitudinally-movable means for supporting said wedges in inactive position.

20. In a device of the class described, a tubular body member, an expansible gripping device at the lower end of the same comprising a frustum-shaped collar, wedge-shaped slips and guiding means for said wedges,

5o an operating-rod extending longitudinally through the tubular body member, and a supporting-disk at the lower end of said rod provided with a flange to engage the lower ends of the wedges.

2l. In a device of the class described, atubular body member, an expansible gripping device at the lower end of the same comprising a frustum-shaped collar, wedge-shaped slips and guiding means for the latter, an op- 6o erating-rod extending longitudinally through the tubular body and having a supportingdisk at its lower end, and means connected with said rod for supporting the wedges in a raised, inactive position.

22. In a device of the class described, a tubular body member, an expansible gripping device at the lower end of the same comprising a frustum-shaped collar andWedge-shaped slips, guiding means for said slips comprising arms secured to the collar and converging downwardly, and connecting means for the lower ends of said arms.

23. In a device of the class described, a tubular body member having expansible gripping devices and expansible supporting means, the latter comprising members which are beveled at their upper ends, and iiexible supporting means for said members.

24. In a device of the class described, a body member having expansible gripping devices and expansible supporting means, the latter comprising a fixed and a slidable collar, supporti ng members beveled at their upper edges, and flexible arms connecting said supporting means with said collars.

25. Ina device of the class described, a body member having expansible gripping devices .and expansible supporting means, the latter comprising a fixed and a slidable collar, supporting members beveled at their upper edges, iiexi ble arms connecting said supporting members with said collars, and a spring disposed to move the slidable collar, in the direction of the fixed collar.

26. In a device of the class described, a tubular body member, an expansible gripping device at the upper end of the same comprising a frustum-shaped collar andwedge-shaped slips engaging said collar, a longitudinallymovable operating-rod, a collar` slidable upon the latter, and arms connecting said collar with the wedge-shaped slips.

27 In a device of the class described, a body member, an expansible gripping device at the upper end of said body member comprising a frustum shaped collar, wedgeshaped slips engaging said collar and provided at their inner ends with shoulders to limit their upward movement, a lon gitudinally-movable operating-rod, a collar slidable upon said rod, and arms connecting said collar with the wedge-shaped slips.

2S. In a device of the class described, a tubular body member, an expansible gripping device at the upper end of the same, comprising a frustum shaped collar and wedgeshaped slips engaging said collar, a longitudinally-movable operating-rod having radiallyextending pins, a collar mounted loosely upon said rod and provided with interior camgrooves engaging said pins, and arms connecting said collar with the wedge-shaped slips.

29. In a device of the class described, a tubular body member, an expansible gripping device at the upper end of the same, comprising a frustum-shaped collar with its apex pointing downwardly, and wedge-shaped slips engaging said collar, a longitudinally-movable operating-rod, and movable means upon the latter for supporting the wedge-shaped slips.

30. In a device of the class described, a tubular body member, an expansible gripping device at the upper end of the same, compris- IOO IIO

ing e frustum shaped collar and wedgeshaped slips engaging the seme, a longitudinally-movable operating-rod having'radially-- extending pins, a collar upon said rod heving interior cam-grooves comprising vertical l Wedge-shaped slips of the lower gripping device, an operating-rod extending longitudi- Anelly through the body memberged supportingdisk at the lower -end of said rod, having a .Hnge adapted to engage the lower edgesv of the lower wedge-shaped slips, a collar connected slidably with `the operating-rod near its upper end, arms connecting saidl collar with the upper wedge-slips, an expansible supporting means located upon the tubular body member between the gripping devices and the ends thereof.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as i my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN HARVEY SMITH. Witnesses:

NVIN S. Rosn, v OTTO A. SroLZ. 

